FRONT PAGE Tense standoff continues on LAC NATIONAL Russia agrees to speed up defence deals ‘Draft EIA notification fosters non-transparency, encourages environmental violations’ Centre unveils new rules to regulate exotic animal trade INTERNATIONAL Trump denies being briefed on ‘Russian bounties for U.S. soldiers’ OPINION Making sense of China’s calculations P.V. Narasimha Rao, the subversive insider In border claims, reimagining South Asia’s boundaries Governments should not aid media extinction Letter and spirit The Mapillah uprising Brief reprieve Yahya’s visit to Moscow LIFE Rare biological phenomenon spotted in dragonflies